System and method for home energy monitor and control

ABSTRACT

The invention generally concerns systems and methods for monitoring and controlling the power consumption of a power-consuming device. The system and method may connect to a power source and a power-consuming device, connecting the power-consuming device to the power source. The power usage of the power-consuming device may then be measured and monitored. This monitoring data may then be stored and optionally sent to a controlling device on a data network. The location of the power-consuming device may also be determined, recorded, and sent to a controlling device. The system may also control the power usage of the power-consuming device. In some cases, a remote server may connect multiple energy monitoring systems in order to gain additional efficiencies and foster a community-based social network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to systems and methods formonitoring and controlling the energy consumption and generation ofdevices in a household. The present invention also relates touser-centric systems and methods that educate and empower users tocontrol their energy consumption habits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electric power drives modern society. Computers, light bulbs,televisions, appliances, iPods, and all sorts of other everyday devicesneed electricity in order to operate. The wiring systems of modernhouseholds are growing more complicated and more powerful every day.Businesses and factories have even more complex electrical systems.Unfortunately, as the individual need for power consumption increases,environmental and political forces are starting to create a burden onthe energy industry.

Issues such as global warming and the pending oil crisis have Americansconstantly worried about the effects of their individual effect inrelation to national energy concerns. Some people are even trying topush themselves “off-the-grid” by only consuming renewable energysources, such as solar or wind power. Carbon credits and carbonfootprints have entered the common vernacular and can often be heard onmajor news networks as well as major motion pictures. But even with allof this concern relating to the conservation of resources and energy, itremains nearly impossible for a concerned global citizen to be able toactively measure the effects of their day-to-day energy consumption.

Some electric companies have recently switched to a pricing model wherethe price of a kilowatt-hour of power is constantly in flux. Thisconstant change in pricing only serves to bring confusion to theconsumer base, as a typical consumer has no clue what the going rate ofelectricity may be, nor do they have any clue what their currentconsumption is. The only metric of consumption that electricityproviders give to consumers is in the form of a bill at the end of themonth; not nearly enough information to inform consumers of theirdaily—not to even mention real-time—energy needs.

It should be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the abovesituations and others of their kind do not satisfactorily address theneeds and desires of consumers wishing to take part in conservation andother environmental activities. Further, these situations are leavingconsumers in the dark about their energy consumption and expenditures,potentially preventing them from making wiser energy-conscious decisionsin their homes and businesses.

More broadly, no system currently exists in which a consumer caneffectively and efficiently monitor, understand, and control theirpersonal energy usage in a home or business.

Other problems and drawbacks also exist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment, the invention comprises a system and methodfor monitoring and controlling the power consumption of apower-consuming device. The system and method may connect to a powersource and a power-consuming device, connecting the power-consumingdevice to the power source. The power usage of the power-consumingdevice may then be measured and monitored. This monitoring data may thenbe stored and optionally sent to a controlling device on a data network.The location of the power-consuming device may also be determined,recorded, and sent to a controlling device. The system may also controlthe power usage of the power-consuming device.

According to another embodiment, a system and method for controlling andmonitoring a power network is described. The system may connect to apower network and a data network. The system may also connect to nodeson the power or data networks. The system may receive monitoringinformation from the various nodes. The system may contain a controllerand a user interface. The controller may receive and analyze monitoringinformation and, using the user interface, present that analysis to auser.

In yet another embodiment, a community-based system for optimizing andencouraging the conservation of resources is described. A serverconnected to a network may contain information concerning a set of usersand the home energy monitoring systems of those users. The server maycollect information about the users' home energy monitoring systems anduse that information to update the home energy monitoring systems. Theserver may also receive information from third party sources and usethat information to update the home energy monitoring systems.

The present invention, which in some instances may be referred to as the“home energy network” product, has numerous benefits and advantages. Theinvention provides a systemized framework for monitoring and controllingthe vast amount of power consuming and providing devices in a businessor home.

The ability to compare energy savings and conservation with the energysavings and conservation of other users in a community not onlyencourages the efficient management of resources, but also allows forpreviously unprecedented experimentation and information disseminationamongst a large group of consumers.

Further, the ability to monitor mobile devices as they move around ahousehold or business allows more precise calculations as to the truepower consumption profile of the various devices connected to themonitoring system. Improved power consumption profiles then, in turn,allow users to drastically improve energy consuming behaviors and habitsin order gain increased energy efficiency.

Because the invention allows users to more efficiently monitor andmanage their consumption of energy in homes, businesses, and otherpower-consuming structures or entities, overall energy awareness amongstconsumers will be drastically improved. This may lead to an overallreduction of strains on precious resources in the global landscape

Other benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent to theperson of ordinary skill in the art.

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitutepart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of theinvention and, together with the description, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention. It will become apparent from the drawingsand detailed description that other objects, advantages and benefits ofthe invention also exist.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description that follows, including the figures, and in part will beapparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of theinvention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will berealized and attained by the system and methods, particularly pointedout in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appendeddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The purpose and advantages of the present invention will be apparent tothose of skill in the art from the following detailed description inconjunction with the appended drawings in which like referencecharacters are used to indicate like elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows a relational chart according to embodiments of theinvention,

FIG. 2 shows a display unit to be used in the system according toembodiments of the invention,

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary relational chart according to embodiments ofthe invention,

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show illustrative circuits according to embodiments ofthe invention,

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart illustrating the power monitoring processaccording to embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 6 shows a flow chart illustrating the switching decision processaccording to some of the various embodiments of the invention,

FIGS. 7-17 show nodes according to various embodiments of the presentinvention,

FIG. 18 shows a remote control for use in the system according toembodiments of the invention,

FIGS. 19 a-19 b show flow charts illustrating the formulation of anintelligent control policy according to embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 20 shows a control node according to embodiments of the invention,

FIG. 21 shows an illustrative display according to embodiments of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention may be directed to an energynetwork for monitoring, controlling, and understanding the energyprofile of a home, business, or other structure or power network. Otherembodiments may be directed to an online service allowing users to shareexperiences and information, as well as compare or compete, in acommunity-based environment.

Energy Network

FIG. 1 shows a relational chart according to embodiments of theinvention. According to some of the various embodiments, a home energynetwork 10 may be composed of a controller 100 and a distributed networkof power monitoring and control nodes 101-106. The nodes may communicatewith the controller, any optional repeaters, and each other via anetwork. In various embodiments, the controller 100 may be composed of asingle base station with a display, or may be separated into: a basestation to manage data storage and communication, and an interfaceconsole with display, buttons, LCD touchscreen, or other controlelements. In other aspects, the controller may be separated into aseparate node control device and a display device. In still otheraspects, the user interface elements may be separate from both the nodecontrol device and the display device, such as on a computer, a handhelddevice (e.g., a cell phone, tablet computer, etc), or in any other typeof device. Control, display, and interface functions may also bedistributed amongst devices in the home energy network or even outsideof the energy network on a public or private network such as theInternet. In other aspects of the invention, the controller may becapable of communicating with a server 120 on the Internet 110.According to various aspects of the invention, Internet 110 may also bea public or private network other than the Internet. The controller 100may send either raw data gathered from the nodes or processed/aggregateddata to the remote server 120.

According to some aspects of the invention, a display unit, as seen inFIG. 2, may function as the “dashboard” for viewing data visualizationsand interacting with the system. In various embodiments, this displayunit could be a stand-alone controller, a display and input device, orjust a display device. The display unit may be wall mounted, handheld,or freestanding. The display unit may contain components such astemperature sensors (thermocouple or thermistors), occupancy sensors,wireless signal detectors, RFID sensors, barcode or magnetic cardsensors, biometric sensors, or any other sensor known to one of ordinaryskill in the art. The display may be duplicated on a personal computer,through a website on the Internet, on a node or appliance connected tothe network or Internet, on a mobile device connected to the network, orto any other device connected to the Internet. The display unit may alsobe capable of wireless or wired transmission, utilizing any of thetransmission protocols described herein or known to those of skill inthe art.

FIG. 3 depicts a relational chart according to embodiments of theinvention. System 30 shows an example home energy network according toan embodiment of the invention. In system 30, a variety of nodes,groups, appliances, and devices are situated. In various aspects of theinvention, nodes may also be embedded directly within appliances anddevices, embedded directly into the wiring system of the home orbuilding itself, or be devices able to connect to the various appliancesand devices, as well as the power network in the home or building asmore fully described below. By way of example, appliances and devicesthat may be excluded from automated switching are shown in italics andparentheses, however the exclusion of devices from the control of thecontroller 300 is purely optional. Groups 310, 320, and 330 areillustrative groupings of nodes that are individually controllable bycontroller 300. Media center group 322 is illustrative of nestedsub-groupings possible by the hierarchical structure of groups accordingto various aspects of the present invention. In other embodiments of theinvention, groups may be created through the use of tagging. Tags may bekeywords or terms associated with or assigned to devices, thusdescribing the device and enabling a keyword-based grouping of thedevice with other devices. Tags may be chosen from a predefined list oradded manually by a user or by the system itself. Tags may also be addedto the predefined list, or to various devices automatically by the usercommunity described herein. Aspects of the invention contemplate deviceshaving multiple assigned tags so that the device may belong to anynumber of groups at the same time, and be controlled and monitoredaccordingly. Various repeaters 304 may be used in embodiments of thepresent invention in order to extend the reach of controller 300 todistant nodes. Further, according to some embodiments the controller maybe separate from a dashboard 302, as described more fully herein. Someembodiments of the invention may connect to an Internet 350, which mayconsist of any type of public or private network.

Nodes

According to various aspects of the invention, the power monitoring andcontrol nodes may be packaged in the form of common household electricalfixtures: outlets, switches, dimmers, power strips, thermostats, bulbsockets, and any other form of fixture or power-related device known tothose of skill in the art. Nodes may also take the form of moreindustrial or commercial electrical fixtures known to those in the art.Nodes may be directed to any international standard known to those inthe art. Nodes may be packaged as clamp-on current transducers tomonitor current in any wire, such as the power cord for an appliance ordevice. Nodes may also be installed in the circuit breaker box in theform of circuit breakers, clamp-on current transducers on each circuit,or clamp-on current transducers monitoring the main electrical feed in ahome or business. Nodes can also be embedded in appliances, devices,light fixtures, other data acquisition or monitoring systems, or anyother power consuming or providing device known to those of skill in theart.

In various aspects of the invention, a node may be composed of anelectronic circuit, such as a logging and control circuit, andapplication-specific packaging. FIG. 4 a shows an illustrative circuitaccording to one of the various embodiments. FIG. 4 b shows an alternateillustrative circuit according to another of the various embodiments.The circuit 40 may contain a microprocessor 400 and may be capable ofmeasuring and recording electrical current and voltage; deriving,processing, and storing power data; and communicating power data overthe network. The circuit may monitor the current and voltage via avoltage transducer 404 and a current transducer 406. Those measurementsmay then be fed through to signal conditioners 408 and 410 and into ananalog-to-digital conversion circuit (ADC) 414 via a multiplexer (MUX)412. The digitally converted signal may then be interpreted bymicroprocessor 400. The circuit may also be capable of controlling anattached electrical device by switching the power to said device orcontrolling the amount of power received by the device, and ofcommunicating the switch state or power consumption level over thenetwork. Communication of information to the network may be accomplishedthrough a network transceiver 420. Nodes embedded in an appliance orother device may be able to control that devices power consumption andswitch state, and be able to communicate those variables over thenetwork. Nodes may additionally contain one or more temperature sensors,such as a thermocouple of thermistor, or any of the other types andkinds of sensors mentioned herein. Nodes may also be wired in othervarious configurations or using other circuitry as will be appreciatedby those of skill in the art. According to other aspects of theinvention, nodes and other devices in the home energy network may alsomonitor their own power consumption and report that information to thenetwork and user.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating the power monitoring processaccording to some of the various embodiments of the invention. Invarious embodiments, this method may be utilized by the various nodes inorder to determine and communicate power information to other devices onthe network. The node may first capture and measure the waveforms ofboth the voltage, step 510, and current, step 511, passing through thenode. Those voltage and current data may then be combined into a powerfactor value in step 512. After integrating the power values at step514, the node may accumulate 516 and filter 518 collected data prior totransmission to the network at step 520. Of course, as the accumulationand filtering steps are not necessary, and the node may directly sendmonitored data without any internal processing of that data, these stepsmay be omitted in some embodiments. In other various embodiments,additional steps may be added, some of which may relate to furtherpreprocessing of data before transmittal.

In various embodiments of the invention, back in FIGS. 4 a-b, switchingmay be accomplished via a switching device 402. This device may be arelay, triac, transistor, semiconductor, or other component. Switchingactions may be performed either in response to a command received overthe network or via predefined conditions and behaviors stored or writteninternally on the circuit. Switching circuitry may also be enabled tochange the level of power being sent to the device or appliance, beyondmere on and off states, such that any conceivable power level may be setby the switching circuitry. According to various aspects, the predefinedconditions may have been stored internally before installation orwritten to internal storage, after installation, by either a controlleror other application connected to the network. Predefined conditions mayinclude the node sensing a power surge or spike, a new appliance ordevice being plugged in, an appliance or device entering standby mode,or an indication that the appliance or other power consuming orproviding device has been moved. In the case of an electrical outlet,switch, power strip, or other power provisioning device, with multipleseparate circuits, each may be treated as an individually addressablenode on the network, can be controlled individually, can be mapped andidentified individually, and can detect whether an individual applianceor device is plugged in, switched on or off, in an active or standbymode, or any other state information, such as a reduced power mode.

Embodiments of the invention may contemplate the various components ofthe invention being either directly connected as described herein, orindirectly connected through additional components or wiring systems. Itshould be easily realized to those of ordinary skill in the art thatsome of these indirect connections may be through other circuits,transistors, capacitors, networks, additional nodes or interveningdevices, computers, intelligent switching or connecting systems, powernetworks or grids, electrical wiring, wireless protocols ortechnologies, or any other method of causing two components tocommunicate. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in theart, this indirect connection and communication aspect may be applied toany of the aspects and embodiments of the invention described herein.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating the switching decision processaccording to some of the various embodiments of the invention. Invarious embodiments, this method may be implemented by the various nodesin order to determine when to switch power to or from a connecteddevice, or when to change the level of power going to the device. Insome aspects of the invention, commands may be sent to the node in orderto instruct the node to switch a power state on or to switch a powerstate off. The node may receive these commands and place them ininternal readable memory, such as a buffer, register, or other storagemedium. Some aspects consider a timed loop in which the commands areread from storage upon the lapse of a time interval, such as a systemclock tick, and then executing the command upon reading, such as in step610. There, the node may check to see if any commands have been sent tothe node, either by checking internal readable memory or by other means.Alternatively, the node may immediately act upon receipt of thecommands. If a change state command has been sent to the node, the nodemay then change the state of the switching circuit at step 612. Aftercommands are checked and switches are adjusted (if necessary), thesystem then may measure current and voltage being transmitted throughthe node at step 614. This may serve as a check that the properswitching state has been achieved or, in the case that throughput isbeing regulated at various levels, that the proper level of current orvoltage is being controlled by the node. The collected data may then beeither stored internally or transmitted to devices connected on thenetwork at step 616, for either further analysis, local or system-widediagnostics, or any other purpose disclosed herein. The system may thenhave a delay period 618, either predetermined, programmed, selected, ordependent upon other factors, before checking for commands again. Otherembodiments and aspects of the invention may use a process similar tothat in FIG. 6 for controlling the level of voltage or current beingpassed through the node, or other power level controls described herein.

In the various embodiments of the invention, nodes may be configured tocommunicate stored or real-time power data and internal switching statesat regular or irregular intervals, when certain optional conditions aremet, or when polled. Polling may be performed by the controller orrepeater, a computer connected to the network, a mobile device, a remotecontrol, a computer or server connected to the network through awide-area network such as the Internet, or any other nodes or networkconnected device. Regular intervals may be on the order of less than asecond, or one or more seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, oryears. Irregular intervals may be random or change over time; forexample, when a node is reset by a user or system command, or detects anew appliance or device plugged in, or senses activity in a connectedappliance or device, the node may initially send a constant stream ofdata for a short period of time and then send data less often as timepasses. The change in interval length may occur in a linear, nonlinear,exponential, stepwise, or arbitrary fashion. Intervals may besynchronous or asynchronous with other nodes. Other aspects contemplatea manual initiation of the polling procedure by a user through thecontroller, dashboard, a remote device connected to the network througha wide-area network such as the Internet, or any user interfacedescribed herein.

In some aspects of the invention, nodes may communicate power data,switching state, status data, or any other sensor information tocontrollers, displays, other nodes, or any other device connected to thenetwork, continually, intermittently, or when predefined conditions aremet. Predefined conditions for the communication of data may include auser override event, a switch or button activation (on either the nodeor device connected to the node) by the user, a power surge or spike, anappliance or device being plugged in to an outlet, a light bulb burningout, a certain instantaneous or average power level on an attachedappliance or device being reached, a certain quantity of W-hr or kW-hrconsumed by an attached appliance or device, or standby or active modebeing detected in an attached device. Other types of data and predefinedconditions available to the system will be appreciated by those in theart.

Various aspects and embodiments of the invention contemplate nodes thatcontain ports, processors, switches, or memory modules. Ports may be anytype of device, communications bus, network connection, or other devicethat allows or provides communication from the node to any othercomponent or device, whether in the described invention or beyond.Processors may consist of circuitry, conventional processors, registers,calculators, algorithms, subroutines, or any other method of analyzingor manipulating data. Switches may be any of the types of switchesdescribed above, or further herein, such as a circuit to enable ordisable the flow of power. Memory modules may consist of any type ofmemory device, such as random-access memory, read-only memory, flashmemory chips, processor registers, caches, hard disks, readable orwritable optical or tape storage, capacitors, other circuitry, or anyother type of device known to those of skill in the art.

Electrical Outlet with Integrated Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 7 illustrates an electrical outlet node with an integrated loggingand control circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. This node may consist primarily of a monitoring and controlunit 702, connected to a printed circuit board 704 and an on/off button706. The node preferably fits in a standard junction box 710, oralternatively may replace the junction box, and may be connected to thehome or office wiring 720. In various embodiments, each receptacle maybe individually monitored and/or switched. Button 706 may allow a userto conduct a temporary override of the node, overriding the energynetwork system as more fully described below. Other embodiments of theinvention may provide a button for each of the outlets on a receptacle,such as outlets 708 and 709 in the exemplary FIG. 7. In otherembodiments, the button may be replaced with a switch, dimmer, or othermechanism for controlling the node. Receptacles, individually ortogether, may contain a switch or other sensor to detect when anappliance or device is plugged in (as in 730), when the device orappliance is drawing power, or when the device or appliance has entereda standby or other mode. The receptacle may be configured toautomatically switch off power in the absence of anything plugged in.This aspect of the invention acts as a safety feature to reduce the riskof electrocution inherent in any electrical fixture (e.g., when a childinserts a finger into an outlet).

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containa location-determining sensor. The sensor may be based upon globalpositioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation of wirelesssignals, powerline networking, other network-based location technology,or any other location-based technology, or manually input into thesystem. The node may transmit its location along with any informationabout the controlled device or appliance and monitoring and control datato the network for use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes mayinterpret or acquire control signals or commands directed to thelocation the node is presently connected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containappliance or device determining sensors. These sensors may be based uponradio frequency identification (RFID) technology, other electronicsignatures or identifications emanating from the device or appliance, apower signature or profile of the appliance or device, or a manual orautomatic pairing process between the appliance or device and the node.The node may transmit the identity of the connected appliance or device,along with any other information previously described, to the networkfor use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret oracquire control signals or commands directed to the type of appliance ordevice connected, or the specific appliance or device connected.

Wall Switch with Embedded Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 8 illustrates an electrical wall switch node with an integratedlogging and control circuit according to various embodiments of thepresent invention. This node may consist primarily of a monitoring andcontrol unit 802, connected to a printed circuit board 804 and an on/offswitch lever 806. This node preferably fits in a standard junction box810, or alternatively replaces the junction box, and is connected to thehome or office wiring 820. In various embodiments, the junction box maycontain multiple switch levers. In still other embodiments, the switchlever 806 may be replaced with a dimmer switch or other power switchingmechanisms known to those in the art. The wall switch node mayadditionally contain an internal switch or other sensor to detect whenan appliance or device is plugged into an outlet controlled by the wallswitch node, when the device or appliance is drawing power from theoutlet, or when the device or appliance has entered a standby or othermode. The node may be configured to automatically switch off power tothe outlet controlled by the wall switch node in the absence of anythingplugged in. According to various aspects of the invention, the inlineoutlet node may also contain a location-determining sensor. The sensormay be based upon global positioning system (GPS) technology, thetriangulation of wireless signals, powerline networking, othernetwork-based location technology, or any other location-basedtechnology, or manually input into the system. The node may transmit itslocation along with any information about the controlled device orappliance and monitoring and control data to the network for use by thesystem. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquire controlsignals or commands directed to the location the node is presentlyconnected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containappliance or device determining sensors. These sensors may be based uponradio frequency identification (RFID) technology, other electronicsignatures or identifications emanating from the device or appliance, apower signature or profile of the appliance or device, or a manual orautomatic pairing process between the appliance or device and the node.The node may transmit the identity of the connected appliance or device,along with any other information previously described, to the networkfor use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret oracquire control signals or commands directed to the type of appliance ordevice connected, or the specific appliance or device connected.

Inline Outlet with Embedded Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 9 illustrates an inline outlet node with an embedded logging andcontrol circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The plug-in node 910 may consist primarily of an internalmonitoring and control unit and an on/off button 912. The node may pluginto a standard outlet 920 and provides a receptacle to receive a plugof a device or appliance 930. In various embodiments, the inline outletnode may have multiple receptacles in which to plug multiple devices orappliances, while the node itself plugs into only one outlet socket. Inother embodiments, the inline outlet node may have multiple receptaclesin which to plug multiple devices or appliances, while the node itselfcan plug into multiple outlet sockets. In some aspects, the number ofreceptacles on the node may equal the number of outlets the node plugsinto, while in other aspects, there may be a disproportionate number ofreceptacles available and outlets used. In various embodiments, eachreceptacle may be individually monitored and/or switched. Button 912 mayallow a user to conduct a temporary override of the node, overriding theenergy network system as more fully described below. Other embodimentsof the invention may provide a button for each of the receptaclesavailable for devices or appliances. In other embodiments, the buttonmay be replaced with a switch, dimmer, or other mechanism forcontrolling the node. Receptacles, individually or together, may containa switch or other sensor to detect when an appliance or device isplugged in, when the device or appliance is drawing power, or when thedevice or appliance has entered a standby or other mode. The receptaclemay be configured to automatically switch off power in the absence ofanything plugged in.

According to various aspects of the invention, the inline outlet nodemay also contain a location-determining sensor. The sensor may be basedupon global positioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation ofwireless signals, powerline networking, other network-based locationtechnology, or any other location-based technology. The node maytransmit its location along with any information about the controlleddevice or appliance and monitoring and control data to the network foruse by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquirecontrol signals or commands directed to the location the node ispresently connected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the inline outlet nodemay also contain appliance or device determining sensors. These sensorsmay be based upon radio frequency identification (RFID) technology,other electronic signatures or identifications emanating from the deviceor appliance, a power signature or profile of the appliance or device,or a manual or automatic pairing process between the appliance or deviceand the node. The node may transmit the identity of the connectedappliance or device, along with any other information previouslydescribed, to the network for use by the system. In other aspects, thenodes may interpret or acquire control signals or commands directed tothe type of appliance or device connected, or the specific appliance ordevice connected.

Power Strip with Embedded Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 10 illustrates a power strip node with an embedded logging andcontrol circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The power strip node 1010 may consist primarily of aninternal monitoring and control unit, an on/off button 1012, andmultiple outlet receptacles 1014-1016. The node may plug into a standardoutlet using a fixed cord 1020 and provides the multiple receptacles toreceive plugs of devices or appliances 1032-1034. In variousembodiments, the power strip node may have a varying number ofreceptacles in which to plug multiple devices or appliances, such as 2,4, 6, 8, or 10. In various embodiments, power strip nodes may be pluggedinto other power strip nodes in order to create more available outletreceptacles. There, the first power strip node may recognize asubsequent power strip node plugged into a receptacle and pass controland monitoring information and commands through to the subsequent powerstrip and back to the network. In various embodiments, each receptaclemay be individually monitored and/or switched. Button 1012 may allow auser to conduct a temporary override of the node, overriding the energynetwork system as more fully described below. Other embodiments of theinvention may provide a button for each of the receptacles available fordevices or appliances. In other embodiments, the button may be replacedwith a switch, dimmer, or other mechanism for controlling the node.Receptacles, individually or together, may contain a switch or othersensor to detect when an appliance or device is plugged in, when thedevice or appliance is drawing power, or when the device or appliancehas entered a standby or other mode. The receptacle may be configured toautomatically switch off power in the absence of anything plugged in.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containa location-determining sensor. The sensor may be based upon globalpositioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation of wirelesssignals, powerline networking, other network-based location technology,or any other location-based technology. The node may transmit itslocation along with any information about the controlled device orappliance and monitoring and control data to the network for use by thesystem. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquire controlsignals or commands directed to the location the node is presentlyconnected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containappliance or device determining sensors. These sensors may be based uponradio frequency identification (RFID) technology, other electronicsignatures or identifications emanating from the device or appliance, apower signature or profile of the appliance or device, or a manual orautomatic pairing process between the appliance or device and the node.The node may transmit the identity of the connected appliance or device,along with any other information previously described, to the networkfor use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret oracquire control signals or commands directed to the type of appliance ordevice connected, or the specific appliance or device connected.

Bulb Socket with Embedded Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 11 illustrates a bulb socket node with an embedded logging andcontrol circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The bulb socket node 1110 may consist primarily of aninternal monitoring and control unit, an optional on/off button, and abulb receptacle. The node may plug into a standard light fixture 1120and provides a standard bulb receptacle to receive a light bulb 1130. Invarious embodiments, the bulb socket node may have a two or more lightbulb receptacles in which to plug multiple light bulbs. In thoseembodiments, each receptacle may be individually monitored and/orswitched. An optional button, pull-chain, or other switch may allow auser to conduct a temporary override of the node, overriding the energynetwork system as more fully described below. Other embodiments of theinvention may provide a button, pull-chain, or other switch for each ofthe receptacles available for light bulbs. Receptacles, individually ortogether, may contain a switch or other sensor to detect when a bulb orother device is plugged in, when the bulb or other device is drawingpower, or when the bulb or other device has entered a standby or othermode. The receptacle may be configured to automatically switch off powerin the absence of anything plugged in. The node may also be able tomonitor, measure, and control the intensity of light emanating from theattached light bulb(s).

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containa light-sensing sensor. The sensor may be based upon photo-multipliertubes, photo-diodes, photo-transistors, CdS photocells, or otherlight-sensing devices known to those in the art. The node may transmitsensed light information along with any information about the controlledbulb or device and monitoring and control data to the network for use bythe system. In various aspects of the invention, the node may adjust theintensity of the light emitting from the light bulb based upon datagathered from the light-sensing sensor. In various aspects, usersettings, the time of day, environmental factors such as daylight hoursare also taken into account by the node and system.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containa location-determining sensor. The sensor may be based upon globalpositioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation of wirelesssignals, powerline networking, other network-based location technology,or any other location-based technology. The node may transmit itslocation along with any information about the controlled bulb or deviceand monitoring and control data to the network for use by the system. Inother aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquire control signals orcommands directed to the location the node is presently connected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containbulb or device determining sensors. These sensors may be based uponradio frequency identification (RFID) technology, other electronicsignatures or identifications emanating from the device or bulb, a powersignature or profile of the bulb or device, or a manual or automaticpairing process between the bulb or device and the node. The node maytransmit the identity of the connected bulb or device, along with anyother information previously described, to the network for use by thesystem. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquire controlsignals or commands directed to the type of bulb or device connected, orthe specific bulb or device connected.

Thermostat with Embedded Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 12 illustrates a thermostat node with an embedded logging andcontrol circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The thermostat node may consist primarily of an internalmonitoring and control unit 1212 attached to or enclosed in awall-mounted thermostat 1210. As some thermostats, in variousembodiments, may not power the HVAC systems they control, electricalpower is not necessarily monitored in this node. In some embodiments ofthe invention, the thermostat node may be paired with anothercorresponding node (such as a circuit breaker node, a clamp-on currenttransducer node, or any other hardwired node) in order to monitor andcontrol power going into the HVAC system controlled by the thermostatnode. These corresponding nodes may communicate information with eachother, or with a controller or other device on the network, in order tocontrol the HVAC system. According to various aspects of the invention,the thermostat may record and transmit its user-defined settings (e.g.,temperature set-points) and data on when it calls for heating/coolingfrom the HVAC system. In various aspects, the thermostat's settings maybe modified remotely by the controller.

According to other various embodiments, a thermostat node may beconnected or attached to a water heater. This thermostat may be similarto that in FIG. 12. A water heater thermostat node may be able tocontrol the switching of the electronic control portion of a gas-firedwater heater, the switching of the heating element of an electric waterheater, the switching of an entire electric water heater, or modifyingthe setpoint for the internal water temperature of a water heater. Inthe latter event, the water may be maintained at a minimum temperaturein order to ensure warm water availability at all times, while onlyadjusting the temperature to a nominal hot level during typical times ofuse.

Circuit Breaker with Embedded Logging and Control Circuit

FIG. 13 illustrates a circuit breaker node with an embedded logging andcontrol circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The circuit breaker node may consist primarily of an internalmonitoring and control unit 1312, attached to or embedded in a circuitbreaker housing 1310. The node may plug into a standard breaker boxusing a contacts on the housing 1310. A switch or button on the housing1310 may allow a user to conduct a temporary override of the node,overriding the energy network system as more fully described below. Theinternal monitoring and control unit 1312 may contain a switch or othersensor to detect when appliances or devices are plugged in to thecircuit, when devices or appliances are drawing power from the circuit,or when devices or appliances have entered a standby or other mode onthe circuit. The circuit breaker node may be configured to automaticallyswitch off power to the circuit in the absence of anything plugged in.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containa location-determining sensor. The sensor may be based upon globalpositioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation of wirelesssignals, powerline networking, other network-based location technology,or any other location-based technology, or manually input into thesystem. The node may transmit its location along with any informationabout the controlled device or appliance and monitoring and control datato the network for use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes mayinterpret or acquire control signals or commands directed to thelocation the node is presently connected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containappliance or device determining sensors. These sensors may be based uponradio frequency identification (RFID) technology, other electronicsignatures or identifications emanating from the device or appliance, apower signature or profile of the appliance or device, or a manual orautomatic pairing process between the appliance or device and the node.The node may transmit the identity of the connected appliance or device,along with any other information previously described, to the networkfor use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret oracquire control signals or commands directed to the type of appliance ordevice connected, or the specific appliance or device connected.

Clamp-On Current Transducer with Embedded Logging and CommunicationCircuit

FIG. 14 illustrates a clamp-on current transducer node according tovarious embodiments of the present invention. The clamp-on currenttransducer node 1410 may consist primarily of an internal monitoring andcommunication unit and an on/off button 1412. The node may be clamped onto a power line/wire 1420. The clamp-on current transducer node maymonitor current in any wire, including the main electrical feed in ahome or office, feeds from alternative sources of energy, a singlecircuit inside or emerging from a breaker box, or any hardwiredappliance or device. In various embodiments of the invention,alternative sources of energy may include generators; photovoltaic orother solar power systems; and wind, hydroelectric, and geothermal powersystems. In aspects of the invention, this node may not have switchingcapability. In some embodiments of the invention, the node may be pairedwith another corresponding node (such as a circuit breaker node or anyother control node) in order to control power going through wire 1420.These corresponding nodes may communicate information with each other,or with a controller or other device on the network, in order to controlthe power going through wire 1420. In some of these embodiments, thebutton 1412 may act in concert with any corresponding nodes to allow auser to conduct a temporary override of the node, overriding the energynetwork system as more fully described below. In various embodiments ofthe invention, the clamp-on current transducer node may be poweredseparately via batteries or power leads.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containa location-determining sensor. The sensor may be based upon globalpositioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation of wirelesssignals, powerline networking, other network-based location technology,or any other location-based technology. The node may transmit itslocation along with any information about the controlled device orappliance and monitoring and control data to the network for use by thesystem. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquire controlsignals or commands directed to the location the node is presentlyconnected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the node may also containappliance or device determining sensors. These sensors may be based uponradio frequency identification (RFID) technology, other electronicsignatures or identifications emanating from the device or appliance, apower signature or profile of the appliance or device, or a manual orautomatic pairing process between the appliance or device and the node.The node may transmit the identity of any appliance or device powered bywire 1420, along with any other information previously described, to thenetwork for use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpretor acquire control signals or commands directed to the category ofappliance or device connected, such as a consumer electronics device orlighting device, or the specific appliance or device connected, such asthe DVD player or microwave.

Pass-Through Power Monitor with Embedded Logging and CommunicationsCircuit

FIG. 15 illustrates a pass-through node with an embedded logging andcommunications circuit according to various embodiments of the presentinvention. The pass-through node 1510 may consist primarily of aninternal monitoring and communication unit 1512 and an optional on/offbutton. The node may be positioned between a power plug 1520 and astandard electrical outlet 1530. The pass-through section of the node isvery thin to minimize the effective amount of length lost by the plug'sblades 1522. In some of the various embodiments, with the pass-throughnode in place, the appliance or device's power plug inserts normallyinto a standard receptacle. The node may contain a monitoring andcommunication circuit that makes contact with one or more pins orblades, and/or a circuit containing one or more windings of a conductoraround one or more pins or blades. These circuits enable thepass-through node to measure the voltage and current running to theappliance or device without connecting measurement equipment in serieswith the power plug. In various embodiments, the pass-through node mayhave multiple receptacles in which to plug multiple devices orappliances through. In various embodiments, each pass-through receptaclemay be individually monitored. In aspects of the invention, this nodemay not have switching capability. In some embodiments of the invention,the node may be paired with another corresponding node (such as acircuit breaker node or any other control node) in order to control theattached appliance or device. These corresponding nodes may communicateinformation with each other, or with a controller or other device on thenetwork, in order to control the attached appliance or device. In someof these embodiments, an optional button may act in concert with anycorresponding nodes to allow a user to conduct a temporary override ofthe node, overriding the energy network system as more fully describedbelow. In various embodiments of the invention, the pass-through nodemay be powered separately via batteries or through the connection withthe standard outlet and appliance or device's completed circuit. Otherembodiments of the invention may provide a button for each of thereceptacles available for devices or appliances, if multiplepass-through receptacles are present. In other embodiments, the buttonmay be replaced with a switch, dimmer, or other mechanism forcontrolling the attached appliance or device. Receptacles, individuallyor together, may contain a switch or other sensor to detect when anappliance or device is plugged in, when the device or appliance isdrawing power, or when the device or appliance has entered a standby orother mode. The node may be configured to automatically switch off powerin the absence of anything plugged in, through collaboration with acorresponding control node.

According to various aspects of the invention, the pass-through node mayalso contain a location-determining sensor. The sensor may be based uponglobal positioning system (GPS) technology, the triangulation ofwireless signals, powerline networking, other network-based locationtechnology, or any other location-based technology. The node maytransmit its location along with any information about the controlleddevice or appliance and monitoring and control data to the network foruse by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpret or acquirecontrol signals or commands directed to the location the node ispresently connected.

According to various aspects of the invention, the pass-through node mayalso contain appliance or device determining sensors. These sensors maybe based upon radio frequency identification (RFID) technology, otherelectronic signatures or identifications emanating from the device orappliance, a power signature or profile of the appliance or device, or amanual or automatic pairing process between the appliance or device andthe node. The node may transmit the identity of the connected applianceor device, along with any other information previously described, to thenetwork for use by the system. In other aspects, the nodes may interpretor acquire control signals or commands directed to the type of applianceor device connected, or the specific appliance or device connected.

Other Node Types

In various aspects and embodiments of the invention, other node typesmay include nodes that provide an interface with independent dataacquisition, monitoring, or control systems, such as those that managesolar power and battery storage systems, nodes that monitor natural gasdevices and pipelines entering the home or business, and other nodesembedded within appliances or devices. Other types of nodes that may beavailable include natural gas and water monitoring nodes, that may logthe amount of utility brought into the system, the amount of the utilityconsumed, and how the utility was consumed. Still other nodes maymonitor flow, temperature, pressure, or other information regardingutility usage points such as sinks, showers, bathtubs, water heaters,refrigerators, dishwashers, sprinklers, clothes washing machines,outdoor hoses, swimming pools, boilers, stoves, ovens, gas-fired airconditioners and chillers, fireplaces, forced air and radiant heaters,as well as any other device known to those in the art. Still other typesof nodes may conduct health and air quality monitoring. Nodes couldmonitor levels of dust, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide,mold, and other allergens or particles known to those in the art andreport these levels to the controller. These measurement capabilitiescould be built into dedicated nodes or other existing node types. Somenodes may also integrate with plug-in electric and hybrid-electricvehicles (cars, scooters, Segways, etc.), or any alternativeenergy-powered transportation devices known to those in the art. Thenodes could track charging activity and include the vehicle in analysisof home power usage or travel usage.

Networking

According to various embodiments of the invention, nodes may communicatewith each other, the controller, and other devices listed herein via alow-power wireless, powerline network, or any other network system ortechnology known to those in the art. The network topology may be star,tree, or mesh. Example wireless network standards include ZigBee andZ-Wave. Messages are transmitted in XML, CSV, or other text or binaryformat. Some nodes may operate only as endpoints, while others mayoperate as repeaters.

Various other networks may be implemented in accordance with embodimentsof the invention, including a wired or wireless local area network (LAN)and a wide area network (WAN), wireless personal area network (PAN) andother types of networks. When used in a LAN networking environment,computers and nodes may be connected to the LAN through a networkinterface or adapter. When used in a WAN networking environment,computers or nodes typically include a modem or other communicationmechanism. Modems may be internal or external, and may be connected tothe system bus via the user-input interface, or other appropriatemechanism. Computers or nodes may be connected over the Internet, anIntranet, Extranet, Ethernet, or any other system that providescommunications. Some suitable communications protocols may includeTCP/IP, UDP, or OSI for example. For wireless communications,communications protocols may include Bluetooth, Zigbee, IrDa or othersuitable protocol. Furthermore, components of the system may communicatethrough a combination of wired or wireless paths.

Regarding embodiments in which wide-area networks are contemplated, suchas those that allow the control of devices and retrieval of energynetwork information from remote devices over the Internet, varioussecurity mechanisms and measures may be taken to provide secure accessto these features by authorized users. Some aspects of the invention mayincorporate the use of public and private keys, PIN codes, usernames andpasswords, CAPTCHA key-phrases, virtual private networking, securetunneling technologies, SSH or HTTPS protocols, dedicated lines, otherencryption methods, or any of the vast other networking security andencryption features known by those of skill in the art.

According to various embodiments and aspects of the invention, therelationship between nodes and controllers, user interfaces, computers,or other controlling devices may be characterized as a that of a clientand a server. In such a structure, the server may control, monitor, orupdate the clients, as well as other activities known to those in theart. The benefits and characteristics of a client-server relationshipwill be appreciated by those in the art. Other aspects may provide forthe controllers and remote access devices, such as networked computers,internet websites, remote control devices, or any other device, to bethat of a server and a client. The community based servers may also actas a server where the controller may be a client. Other embodimentscontemplate the reversal of these relationships. In still otherembodiments, the above listed client-server relationships may instead becharacterized as a distributed computing network or system. In such astructure, all nodes, controllers, remote devices, and servers may actin concert to effect processing, monitoring, and control required by thesystem. The benefits and characteristics of such a distributed computingnetwork will be appreciated by those of skill in the art.

Control and Management of the Home Energy Network

According to some of the various embodiments of the present invention,the control software for the home energy network, operating withineither the controller, or installed on a personal computer assigned therole of controller, automates the powering on and off (switching) of theindividual nodes in the network. In various aspects, the controlsoftware and controller may further control the amount of current andvoltage being allocated to each of the devices or appliances connectedto any or all of the nodes in the network. Embodiments and aspects ofthe invention, through the implementation of these switching and controloperations, may serve to conserve the electricity used by a customer'shome or office while providing the user with as much convenience andcontrol as possible.

In various aspects of the invention, the automated switching behavior ofthe individual nodes is determined in software with a combination ofuser-defined inputs and system intelligence. User-defined inputs mayinclude an initial setup and ongoing adjustment(s) of user preferencesusing either the dashboard controller, personal computer, any deviceconnected to the network (either locally or remotely), or a webinterface. The types of data inputs provided by a user may include butare not limited to:

the identification, classification, and assignment of individual nodes,as well as appliances and devices connected to specific nodes;

the creation of groups and sub-groups of appliances or devices, eitherfunctional or by physical location;

the selection of lifestyle preference characteristics or other data,such data describing the general habits of users of the system, anycomfort preferences of those users, and any desired goals to be reachedfrom the use of the home energy network (such as cost savings,minimization of the environmental impact of energy consumption, or othergoals);

the selection of parental control data or override passwords needed tomodify system preferences, schedules, or controls;

the scheduling of certain behaviors associated to the known hours of useof nodes, groups of nodes, or the entire system by users; and

any other type of input typically associated with computer systems thatwill be appreciated by those of skill in the art, such as profileinformation, personal data, display preferences (such as interfaceskins).

System Setup

According to some of the various embodiments, the home energy networkmay be set up, both initially and subsequently, in multiple differentways. In one embodiment, an interactive remote control, such as thedashboard, a wireless interface, or a software application running on acomputer or other device, may activate a “setup mode” on the remotecontrol. In various aspects, the user may then carry the remote controlto each node to be configured, press a button or other selection objecton the node to initiate a wireless handshake between the node and theremote control, and respond to the remote control's prompts about thelocation of the node and the appliance or device to be connected to thenode. In other aspects, the individual nodes may be plugged into theremote control or the remote control may be plugged into the individualnodes, directly.

In another embodiment, a plug-in configuration tool may be used. Here,the plug-in tool may be plugged into each node to be configured. In someaspects, the plug-in tool may electronically handshake or otherwiseconnect with the connected node, and determines the type of nodeconnected and any other node identifying information (such as versionnumber, serial number, other universally or locally unique information,or physical orientation of the node). The plug-in tool may alsooptionally determine the category of device or appliance connected tothe node or any other device or appliance identifying information (suchas version number, serial number, or other universally or locally uniqueinformation). The plug-in tool may send received configurationinformation to the controller through any networking technologycontained herein. In some embodiments where the plug-in tool has adisplay, the user can select an option on the display (e.g., select froma list of rooms or zones that the user previously defined with thedashboard) or enter new information (e.g., with a miniature keyboard).In some aspects, the plug-in tool may have been preconfigured (e.g., theuser might use the dashboard to configure the tool to identify all nodeslocated in a certain room, plug the tool into each node in that room,then return to the dashboard to set up the next room/zone).

In other embodiments, the user may manually log or configure the nodesattached to the home energy network. In these embodiments, the nodes mayhave letters, numbers, names, or other codes marked on them. Theseidentification codes or markers may be unique to a given installationbut not absolutely unique; a certain installation may use a system-wideidentifier code. In other aspects, these identification codes areabsolutely unique. To keep track of the various nodes, a user may fillout a form, noting the identification information on each node and wherethe node is or will be installed. A user may then enter the forminformation into the dashboard, a computer, a web interface, or otherconfiguration device.

In other embodiments, the nodes may be mapped prior to installation. Asan exemplary scenario, a user may begin a guided setup process (e.g.,wizard) on a dashboard interface. The setup wizard may prompt the userto select a specific node (based on type or specific node identificationinformation) and decide where it will be installed and, optionally, whatthat node will be used for (which may be a specific assignment, “openoutlet”, or other selection). The user may then install the node. Whenthe user returns to dashboard, the user may start the procedure overwith a new node. In other variations of this procedure, multiple nodesmay be simultaneously mapped and installed. In another exemplaryscenario, each node may be hooked up to the dashboard, a computer, orother configuration device, whether directly or indirectly (such asthrough another node, a network, or an attached accessory). A user maypress a button on node in order to initiate a pairing and configurationhandshake with the configuring device. The user may then declare wherethe node will be installed and/or what will be connected, and marks thenode accordingly (e.g., “living room wall” or “refrigerator”). The userrepeats this procedure for all nodes to be installed.

In other embodiments, the nodes may be configured using a barcodereader. The use of the barcode reader may be similar to the plug-ininstallation tool, but may read barcodes on nodes instead of pluggingdirectly into the nodes. The barcodes may be stickers affixed to nodesor printed directly on the nodes.

In other embodiments, nodes may be previously configured. This may bethe case with appliances that have embedded nodes and with inline nodes,detailed herein. RFID based tags or other self-identifying technologiesmay also be preconfigured to work seamlessly with a home energy network.

Some embodiments contemplate the setup and integration of alternativeenergy sources into the system. The invention's data visualization tools(i.e., the dashboard) may provide the user with graphical and numericaldata, reporting the performance of these sources and systems, orcalculating the savings in energy and cost if such systems were to beinstalled. The graphical user interface, or any other configurationmethod previously described, may prompt the user with requests forinformation about the house (i.e., number and type of windows, roofingtype, and which direction they face) to make estimates of the heatlosses or loads. It may also provide forms to easily input the data suchas R- and U-values generated by on-site energy audits to provide abaseline for improvements and provide quantitative tools for evaluatingthem. The addition of sensors such as temperature, wind, or lightdetectors may also be integrated to provide a richer set of data for thedisplay and analysis on the dashboard.

In various embodiments of the invention, during the system setupprocess, the nodes may communicate with the user to confirm connectionor registration on the network, indicate switching and monitoringstatus, or other node or network states. Methods of communicating withthe user may include: flashing multi-colored LEDs, either alone or in anarray, affixed on visible parts of the nodes or, alternatively, on partsof the node normally hidden (e.g., between the node and a wall); soundsemanating from the device in the form of beeps, clicks, tones,polyphonic sounds, or recorded or synthesized voices; or richer displayssuch as LED, OLED, E-Ink, LCD, or other digital display technologies.

In some related embodiments, the system or nodes may communicateautomation behaviors the user. This may include the full set of LED,sounds, displays, and other indicators mentioned above (for example, anode may blink or beep when a user override event is about to time-out,or when a node is about to change switch state according to itsschedule). This may also include dimming or blinking attached lamps orlight fixtures. For example, if the system detects that a room is notoccupied, the lights might gradually dim before switching off. Thiswould avoid the sudden switching that occurs with many motiondetector-based light switches, and would give the user a chance toreact. As another example, when a user puts a home or office into“sleep” mode, the system may dim or blink an attached light fixture toconfirm the user's choice.

Grouping of Devices

In various embodiments of the present invention, appliances and devicesmay be grouped according to function, physical location, or any otheruseful grouping. As an illustrative example, referring back to FIG. 3, auser might create a “media center” group 322 that includes a TV, digitalvideo recorder (DVR), DVD player, video game console, and stereo system,that should generally all be switched on as a single unit when the mediacenter is in use. In that example, when the media center is not in use,the group may be switched off to save power and eliminate “leak”currents. However, according to various aspects of the invention, groupsmay also contain “excluded devices” as described below. In someembodiments of the invention, these groupings of devices may bemonitored as an entire entity instead of individually, should suchfunctionality be desired. For example, a stereo group may have its ownmonitoring statistics, such a group possibly containing a receiver, CDplayer, and amplifier. In some aspects, the groupings may behierarchical in nature, allowing nested levels of groupings. In thoseaspects, different levels of groupings would allow broader or narrower,more specific, control of devices at the desire of the user. In otherembodiments of the invention, groups may be created through the use oftagging. Tags may be keywords or terms associated with or assigned todevices, thus describing the device and enabling a keyword-basedgrouping of the device with other devices. The tagging structure of thesystem may include any tagging elementes well known to those in the art,such as those described in “The Hive Mind: Folksonomies and User-BasedTagging,” by Ellyssa Kroski, which is fully incorporated by referenceherein. Tags may be chosen from a predefined list or added manually by auser or by the system itself. Tags may also be added to the predefinedlist, or to various devices automatically by the user communitydescribed herein. Aspects of the invention contemplate devices havingmultiple assigned tags so that the device may belong to any number ofgroups at the same time, and be controlled and monitored accordingly.

According to another embodiment, a user may classify certain appliancesor devices as desirable for “parental control” and restrict their use bychildren. As a result, the system could restrict televisions, video gameconsoles, computers, or other entertainment devices, or any otherdesired device, from powering on during certain times of the day, orcould limit those devices to being used for longer than a specifiedduration. In other aspects, the system could require a password to beinput into the system, either through a mobile device, a computer, acontroller or interface device, or through a keypad connected to orembedded in any node, before providing power to the device subject toparental control.

In embodiments of the invention, parents may designateappliances/devices, nodes, or groups (e.g., rooms) as “monitored” andreceive notifications about when the monitored items were used and forhow long. Notifications may be regular repeating reports or may onlyoccur when time/duration limits were exceeded. For example, if a parentrestricts use of a video game console to two hours per day and to timesbetween 4 pm and 11 pm, and the child violates those rules, the parentmay be notified.

To prevent children from circumventing monitoring or access controls,e.g., by moving a TV, computer, or video game console to another outlet,embodiments of the system may attempt to track theappliance/device/node. For example, if a laptop computer is unpluggedfrom a restricted outlet node, and the system detects that one or more“new” devices has been plugged in to another outlet node (whether in thesame room/zone/group or elsewhere), the system may attempt to determinewhether the “new” device (or which of several) is the restrictedappliance/device. This attempt may include assuming the first “new”device plugged in after the restricted device was unplugged is therestricted device, or may involve inspecting the power profiles of oneor more devices and comparing against the historical power profileassociated with the restricted device.

According to other aspects of the invention, an inline monitoring node,identification node, or other mobile tag or node may be attached to therestricted item in a way that makes the node or tag's removal difficult.This may include mechanically fastening a node in place using a bolt,screw, set screw, lock, or clamp, or may include gluing or bonding anode or tag in place. With the node or tag effectively locked, therestricted item may be moved between outlets without affecting themonitoring or access controls.

For ease of use, a selection of predetermined settings, groups,sub-groups, and parental controls may be available in variousembodiments to provide a typical setup. In some embodiments, the systemmay configure initial settings based upon a self-diagnostic orassessment of the configuration of the network. There, the system may beable to determine the location and type of various nodes connected tothe network, along with the identity of the devices or appliancesconnected through those nodes, in order to suggest or pre-configuresettings, groups, sub-groups, and parental controls for the user.

Excluding Appliances and Devices

In various embodiments, certain devices may be provided power at alltimes and may be excluded from automated switching by the system. As anillustrative example, in the case of a media center, a digital videorecorder (DVR) should be on at all times of day to ensure that thedevice can record scheduled programming as desired by the user. The samerules may apply to personal computers, alarm clocks, and certain otherappliances and devices. Appliances and devices such as those listedabove may be automatically excluded from switching once they areconnected to and identified by the system. In other aspects, users canchoose (via any previously mentioned or available interface, including adashboard, a personal computer, or website) to override this behavior toinclude or exclude any individual appliance or device connected to thenetwork.

Users may also be able to set varying levels of exclusion for variousdevices. For example, while some devices may be completely excluded fromcontrol by the system, such as the DVR described above, other devicesmay be controlled to an exclusion level (or point) as defined by theuser. In this example, the security lighting may be dimmed down to acertain level by the system, but not turned completely off. The samecould be considered for computers able to be put in a sleep orhibernation mode, but without being turned off, or other devices as willbe appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art.

Identification of Devices

In some embodiments of the invention, when an appliance or device isplugged into an outlet node or otherwise attached to a node, the nodemay detect it in one or more ways. FIG. 16 is illustrative of an outletnode 1610 able to detect a plugged in device 1614 via a sensor 1612 inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. In various aspects,nodes may detect appliances or devices through numerous methods,including but not limited to any previously mentioned method or eitherof the following:

Via a switch triggered by the insertion of the plug into the outlet. Theswitch may be triggered by a cover plate that slides or pivots over theopening(s) in the receptacle, or via the blades and/or pins on the plugitself. One or more blades and/or pins may actuate a mechanical switchor an electrical contact, or may trigger an optical switch. An opticalswitch may involve one or more blades or pins blocking light travelingbetween an emitter and a receiver, or may reflect light from an emitterto a receiver.

Via a circuit detecting the presence of a new resistance or impedance onthe line.

In some aspects, the node may then send a network message to thecontroller, or any other device connected to the network, announcing thepresence of the new device. The new device may then be identified andclassified in the system. In some embodiments, this identification maybe entered manually by the user in response to a prompt or series ofprompts from the dashboard. In other embodiments, a variety of methodsare available to automatically recognizing certain devices.

According to one embodiment, an electronic handshake between the outletnode and the appliance or device may be used to recognize specificdevices or appliances.

According to other embodiments, an electronic handshake between theoutlet node and an additional device attached to the appliance ordevice, such as: an inline adapter connected between the node andappliance or device; an electronic tag, such as an RFID tag, attached tothe appliance or device and read by the outlet node when the tag iswithin a certain range may be used to recognize specific devices orappliances. FIG. 17 is illustrative of a node capable of identifying anappliance through the use of an attached additional device, according toembodiments of the present invention. In that embodiment, an outlet node1710 contains an RFID reader 1715. The reader is able to scan an RFIDtag 1725 attached to an appliance or device's cord 1720, in order toidentify the appliance or device. In various embodiments, tags may beprepackaged and pre-labeled to correspond with typical household itemssuch as computers, air conditioners, refrigerators, lamps, washingmachines, televisions, and the like, and be easily attached as stickersor twist-ties on power cords or A/C adapters.

According to yet other embodiments, the system may analyze the powerconsumption of the appliance or device over time to make an educatedguess about its type or may be used to recognize specific devices orappliances. The system may also learn from analyzing the powersignatures and consumption patterns of previously registered devices andappliances in order to better estimate the category or specific identityof newly connected appliances or devices. Further embodiments considerthe system receiving updated heuristics or other identity estimationdata from a remote server. In some of those embodiments, the servercould create the updates based on information gathered from multipleenergy network systems and from third parties, such as vendors ofappliances or devices. In some aspects, the vendors may upload specificenergy signature and power consumption information to the server, andthrough the server to the various energy network systems, in order toidentify the specific model of device connected, and consequently thecategory and other information associated with that specific model ofdevice or appliance. Some constituent elements of an energy signature orpower consumption profile may include the amount of power consumed uponstartup of the device or appliance, amount of power consumed upon normalor prolonged operation of the device or appliance, resistance of thedevice or appliance at both startup and during prolonged or normalusage, amount of power or resistance measured from the device orappliance during standby or other reduced power or usage modes, thetimes of day at which the appliance or device is typically used (e.g., atelevision or DVD player may be used more frequently in the afternoonsor evenings, whereas a coffee maker or espresso machine is moretypically used in the mornings), the frequency at which a device orappliance is used, and what other devices are typically used inconjunction with or at the same time as the device or appliance. As datadescribing the power profiles of specific types and models of appliancesare generated both in the user's home and throughout the user community,this data can be used to improve the heuristic analysis for identifyingnew devices as they are connected to the system. For instance, if thesystem detects a pattern of high power consumption on a predictable dutycycle, the new appliance might be assumed to contain a compressor. Ifthe appliance is attached to an outlet known to be in a bedroom, theappliance could be reasonably assumed to be a window-mounted airconditioner and not a refrigerator, and if the duty cycle or othercharacteristics correspond to those of a known make and model, thesystem could infer this as well.

In one exemplary embodiment of this process, a power consumption profilemay be measured by first turning on an appliance or device. Uponstartup, various characteristics of the device may be measured, such asthe level of inrush of current, the current levels and durations duringa startup sequence, and other current characteristics appreciated bythose of skill in the art. Various inrush characteristics could includea high sharp inrush (with a high capacitance but low impedance), a highextended inrush (with a high capacitance and high impedance), a lowsharp inrush (with a low capacitance but high impedance), or a lowextended inrush (with a low capacitance and low impedance). Other inrushcharacteristics may be segmented into further, more detailed divisionsand categories, and still others will be appreciated by those of skillin the art. Optionally, micro-scale power measurements may be taken,comprising calculating power factors during various operational modes ofthe device, calculating sinusoidal or other periodic fluctuations incurrent and voltage during those operational modes, and determining ifthe device uses a linear or switched-mode power supply. Macro-scalepower measurements may also be available in the power profilingprocedure, wherein the current and voltage amplitudes may be measured,the time cycling or periodic variation is current and voltage amplitudesare determined, any warm-up characteristics are discovered, or any othercharacteristics are discovered.

Control of Nodes

According to various embodiments of the present invention, individualnodes and groups of nodes may switch power on and off, or to varyinglevels, to minimize or reduce the power consumption of attachedappliances and devices, exercise parental controls, enhance safety, ormeet other goals of the user, while continuing to provide the ordinaryservice and convenience to which the user is accustomed. Various aspectsmay apply this ability to all types of nodes. In some embodiments,thermostats may be exempted from these switching controls, dependingupon the settings of the system. Other embodiments allow other devicesto be exempted based upon the requirements and environment in which thesystem operates. For example, a system in a restaurant may exempt theindustrial refrigerator from being switched. In the various embodiments,the switching control may extend to the individual receptacle and devicelevel. Power savings may be achieved by switching off appliances anddevices when they are not in use. Embodiments of the inventioncontemplate switching off both “active” loads like lights and airconditioners and “inactive” loads like electronic devices that “leak”current when off or in standby mode.

Nodes may switch power on and off, or to varying levels, in response tocommands from the controller. The controller may consult a scheduledefined by the user, any predefined or previously configured settings(such as those described above, including automated setup), and mayfurther adjust to or adapt to changing conditions sensed by the system.These conditions may include inputs from other nodes and sensors, suchas buttons and switches, occupancy sensors, electrical activity on othernodes, or any other sensors disclosed herein.

In various aspects of the invention, nodes may also switch themselvesoff in response to power surges. This may be done automatically withouta command from the controller if desired. In some aspects, the node mayreport the incident to the controller.

Control of Devices

Some embodiments of the present invention contemplate direct (andpossibly two-way) communication with computers and other electronicdevices, allowing the system to regulate power states and/or sendcommands and messages. In this way the controller could ask a computer,DVR, appliance, etc. to enter sleep mode, or low-power mode, but thedevice could choose how best to comply with the request, perform anumber of actions before complying with the request, or choose to ignorethe request. In other aspects of the invention, the controller couldtrigger any possible reduced-power mode of a device or appliance, suchthat even a slight reduction in power could be realized in that mode.This would also allow the controller to “throttle” the power draw ofcertain devices, with more options than a simple binary on/off, andwould enable power management of devices that are not suitable forphysical power switching. An illustrative example of this concept is theshutting off the heating element in an electric water heater (but notthe pump).

Another embodiment contemplates the control of cooling using thermalmasses, possibly in markets where electricity prices differ widelybetween peak and off-peak rates. When the price of electricity dropsbelow a threshold, the controller may send a message to a chiller, airconditioner, or refrigerator. The appliance may run the compressor tocool a thermal mass (e.g., chilled liquid, ice, or eutectic salts) whileelectricity is cheap (and cooling demands are probably lower, assumingthis is at night). When electricity prices rise and cooling demandsincrease, the controller may send another message to the appliance,which blows air or circulates a fluid across the cold thermal mass,providing a cooling effect without running the compressor.

The invention's automation capabilities may also be integrated withpassive building systems to improve or enhance their performance.Examples of how this may work according to various embodiments include:

Controlling and/or reporting the automated opening and closing ofwindows and ventilation systems to regulate the timing, quantity, andflow of outside air into the home to reduce energy for heating andcooling and improve indoor air quality. This could incorporate the useof additional sensors to determine sunlight levels on the various facesof the building, outside vs. inside temperature, humidity, wind strengthand direction, as well as sensors to determine indoor air-quality.

Controlling and reporting the position and angle of external sunshadesand interior blinds and curtains to moderate solar heat gain, again withthe potential of integrating a number of sensors.

Controlling and reporting the activity of geothermal and passive-solarthermal pumps to optimize their performance and minimize the need forother energy inputs for the heating and cooling of the building. Theautomation of the pumps may incorporate information about the user'sschedule and activity gathered by other systems monitored by theinvention. For example, water heated during the day by a passive solarsystem may be held in reserve in an insulated holding tank if it isknown that the user will not be home for some time, and pumped only whenit is needed.

Controlling and reporting on the status of gray-water collectionsystems.

Controlling and reporting of micro-hydroelectric generators.

Controlling and/or reporting of small wind turbines.

Scheduling

In some of the embodiments of the invention, the user may define aschedule profile based on his typical usage pattern. A schedule profilemay define the switching, or other power regulating, behavior forindividual appliances and devices and groups thereof. As an illustrativeexample, the media center in the user's living room might typically bein use on weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., and from 3:00 p.m. to12:00 a.m. In that example, during the remaining hours—12:00 a.m. to6:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.—the power to the media center canbe switched off, eliminating all power consumption, withoutinconveniencing the user. This switching may be accomplished at the wallreceptacle, by disabling an entire conventional power strip, or via agroup of individual receptacles in a power strip node (as well as usingany of the previously mentioned node devices). In the latter case, if adigital video recorder were included in the “media center” group butalso specified as excluded from automated switching, the receptacleconnected to the DVR would not be switched off.

As another illustrative example, a window air conditioner in a room nottypically occupied at night, such as a home office, and that iscontrolled via an integrated thermostat (as opposed to a centralhousehold thermostat) might be scheduled to turn off at night and turnback on in the morning, restarting early enough to cool the room beforeit is reoccupied.

The various contemplated embodiments do not require users to conform toa rigid schedule to enjoy the benefits of the system as the system maybe designed to be temporarily disabled, at the node/group level orsystem-wide, to accommodate changing user behavior.

Temporary Override

In various embodiments of the invention, switching nodes may be equippedwith one or more buttons or other interface elements in order totemporarily cause the entire node or part of the node to toggle oradjust state—in other words, to switch off immediately, or to behavelike a normal outlet, or wall switch, or to adjust the flow of powerthrough that outlet. In some aspects of the invention, power monitoringand communications features continue to operate during a temporaryoverride. This feature is useful when a user wishes to overrideautomated control, such as to activate an appliance or device forimmediate use, or to immediately shut down an appliance or devicenormally scheduled to be on.

In other embodiments, the functionality of the node-mounted button(s)can also be duplicated via a remote control. FIG. 18 is illustrative ofa remote control being used to initiate a temporary override of a nodeor several nodes. In various aspects, the remote control may be tetheredto the node or operate via the wireless network, like remote control1810. In other embodiments, a remote control may be programmed tooperate one of several nodes via a selection screen 1820, or individualnodes like node 1830. In these embodiments, a remote control may usefulfor toggling the switch state of nodes that are obscured, blocked, orotherwise hard to reach.

Intelligence and Adaptation

In various embodiments, data gathered by the system may also be used bythe controller, or other connected device, to improve the switchingcontrol schedule or settings without requiring direct input from theuser.

According to some aspects, heuristic analysis of usage patterns mayimprove the energy efficiency of a specific node. As an illustrativeexample, once the system has established a pattern of the duty cyclingof an appliance, device, or group, the system can apply that pattern tothe schedule profile. In the case of appliances, devices, or groups thathave pre-established schedule profiles, their schedule profile can beadjusted according to the observed usage pattern. In the case of anappliance, device, or group with no pre-established schedule profile,the system can automatically generate one and either activate it orprompt the user to activate it.

In embodiments of the invention, the system may detect when an applianceor device is not in use, or in reduced use, and automatically switch offpower, or reduce power, to that device or appliance. Other aspects maycontemplate determining ideal use or lack thereof by monitoring relateddevice use, such as the other appliances in the same room or group, orother user power-usage habits. Referring to FIG. 19 a, some embodimentsmay accomplish this by first recording power consumption data and useroverride events at step 1900. The system may then determine if there areany discernible patterns in power consumption over time on the targetednode at step 1910. Here, the system may attempt to identify “modes,”where instantaneous or time-averaged power consumption is predictable.At step 1920, the system then separates modes into “standby/passive” and“active” states. Some aspects of the invention may provide for theseparation of multiple active states at this step. At step 1930, thesystem determines if the standby mode occurs at predictable timeperiods. In some aspects, these periods could be times of the day,certain days of the week, or other spans of time. Next, the systemdetermines if user temporary override events occur with anypredictability at step 1940. The system may then calculate optimalmodifications to any existing schedules or settings at step 1950, andeither implement those modifications directly or suggest implementationto the user at step 1960.

FIG. 19 b illustrates another embodiment of the intelligent controlpolicy. The system may record power consumption data at step 1900. Someof this data may include the analysis of turn-on characteristics 1902,micro-scale power measurements 1904, and macro-scale power measurements1906. Turn-on characteristics may include inrush current levels asfurther described herein, such as the high sharp inrush, the highextended inrush, the low sharp inrush, or the low extended inrushprofiles. These and other inrush characteristics may be analyzed by thesystem along with a discernable electronic boot sequence, if it occurs,in the connected power-consuming device. In some aspects of theinvention, the boot sequence may be of a longer duration than the inrushcharacteristics, may begin after the inrush has completed, may occursalongside the inrush characteristics, or any combination thereof.Micro-scale power measurements may be taken, comprising calculatingpower factors during various operational modes of the device,calculating sinusoidal or other periodic fluctuations in current andvoltage during those operational modes, and determining if the deviceuses a linear or switched-mode power supply. These micro-scale powermeasurements could help determine if the connected device has an AC orDC power supply, or if the power supply is linear or switched-mode.Macro-scale power measurements may also be available in the powerprofiling procedure, wherein the current and voltage amplitudes may bemeasured, the time cycling or periodic variation is current and voltageamplitudes are determined, any warm-up characteristics are discovered,and any other characteristics are discovered. These characteristics mayalso be utilized in the identification of the category or specificidentity of the connected device, as previously described herein.

Next, at step 1920, the system may use the recorded information in orderto determine what mode the connected device is operating under, such asan active (on) state or inactive (standby) state. An off state may alsoexist. Based on this determination, the policy then either moves to step1921 for active devices, or to step 1925 for inactive devices. At 1922,if active, the system may apply heuristics analysis to the recordeddata, such as determining what type of power source, boot sequence, orother characteristics the connected device exhibits. Based on theseheuristic analyses, the category or specific identity of the connectedappliance or device is determined at step 1923. Step 1924 then sends thedevice category or identity, as identifying information, to the setupprocess further detailed herein. The system may then periodically pollthe connected device or node to determine if a state change occurs andcontinually monitor and improve the intelligent control policy.

If the connected device is in an inactive state, step 1932 determines ifthe device is likely to be used within a set amount of time usinginformation already known in the policy at 1931, such as occupancy ofthe home or business, the mode or configuration profile currently ineffect in the energy network, the time of day, or any other factorsinvolved in the intelligent policy. The set amount of time may be anyamount of time, such as a minute, five minute interval, quarter orhalf-hour intervals, or multiples of hours. If the device is likely tobe used, the device is left on in the inactive state at 1933. If, on theother hand, the device is not likely to be used, step 1934 may switchoff power to the device or adjust the device's schedule in the energynetwork. Step 1934 may also further reduce the amount of power consumedby the device, or further control the device using any of the methodsdescribed herein. After being switched off, the connected device may beperiodically polled at 1942 in order to determine if a state changeoccurs and continually monitor and improve the intelligent controlpolicy. The system may also determine optimal modifications to anyexisting schedules or settings at step 1950, and either implement thosemodifications at step 1960. Implementation may occur as either a director automatic adjustment to the schedule at 1962, or by recommendingchanges to the user at 1964.

At step 1942, the system may periodically poll the connected device,directly or through a node, to determine if a state change at the devicehas occurred. If a device's state has switched, like at step 1944, thesystem may again determine the current state of the connected device at1920. This way, the system may continue to improve, modify itself, andadapt according to the usage habits recognized by the intelligentcontrol policy.

In various embodiments of the invention, the system may use an attachedbattery in order to provide a buffer for balancing electricitygeneration and storage with the electricity usage determined from themonitoring nodes. In some of these embodiments, the automated decouplingof instantaneous generation from instantaneous consumption will provideadditional benefits to users. When attached to a battery storage system,the energy automation system may be able to regulate flexible usage(i.e., electricity draws that can be shifted in time, or that areoptional) such that, when taking the base (i.e., fixed) load intoaccount, the overall load stays entirely within available stored powerreserves or within a certain excess of stored reserves.

In some of these embodiments, the dashboard may provide visualizationsof the flow of electricity through a battery system (like a Prius), thegrid, other sources, and various loads in the home/office. The dashboardmay provide visualizations of the batteries' level of charge over time.The system may provide visualizations/projections about the past,present, and future balance between battery draw, grid draw, andgeneration. For example, in the middle of a sunny summer day, avisualization might show electricity inputs from solar panels and thebattery system, with the power flowing to a variety of loads. Thevisualization may show that the photovoltaic system's output is near itspeak and meets the draw of the air conditioning system (and may allowfor charging of the batteries). As the sun drops lower in the sky, or isobscured by clouds, the visualization may change to show that thebatteries are depleted and additional power is needed from the grid tomeet the air conditioning and other loads. Embodiments of the systemalso contemplate the system may deciding to draw from reserves based onfactors such as the price of electricity or when service interruptionsare imminent. Other consider the system deciding to store energy withinthe battery system based on factors such as the price of electricity,loads on the power grid, and availability of various modes of generation(i.e., solar, wind, etc.). In other words, if electricity is moreexpensive during the day, it may make economic sense to charge thebatteries from the grid at night. The potential money savings may not besufficient to justify the installation of batteries alone, but in abuilding already equipped with onsite solar/wind/whatever generation andbatteries, charging from the grid at night may be worthwhile.Embodiments of the system may maintain a minimum battery level for usein emergency situations. In such situations, the system might apply an“emergency” configuration profile, shutting off all appliances anddevices (potentially including those normally excluded from switching)not necessary for safety and security.

Similarly, the use of diesel and gasoline generators may also bemonitored and controlled. If the system determines, by reasons of cost,efficiency, or load, the generator is a preferable source of electricityfor the building, the system may automatically switch from other sourcesof power to the generator.

Predictable Behavior

As noted above and as contemplated by various embodiments, if thestandby mode is predicable, the system may automatically schedule theappliance, device, or group to switch off when the device is likely tobe in standby. If a schedule already exists, the system may modify it.According to some aspects, scheduling may be based on statisticallikelihood—for example, switching the device off during the timeinterval defined by a number of standard deviations of observationswhere the device was in the standby mode. Some aspects may testpredictions by periodically modifying the various device schedules andpower/configuration profiles and determining if more or less overridesoccur as a result. If less overrides occur, the system may furthermodify the schedules and profiles. If more overrides occur, the systemmay revert to a prior schedule or profile.

Additionally, if user override events are predictable, the system maymodify the schedule for an appliance, device, or group to comport withthe predicted override. This may be done with the intention of providinggreater convenience to the user. The schedule adjustment may occurautomatically or the user may be prompted to approve or modify themodification. Modifications may be determined statistically, as above,or otherwise. The system may also use prompts to advise users onopportunities to adjust their behavior to better conserve energy.

Unpredictable Behavior

To accommodate unpredictable use of appliances, devices, or groups,embodiments of the invention may also automatically switch off, orreduce, power to an appliance, device, or group that has been in standbymode for a certain length of time. In this case, the node(s) may remainswitched off until commanded to switch on (by the controller, based onautomatic behavior or user command, or by a user through the temporaryoverride button(s) on the node) or may periodically switch on to checkthe state of the connected appliance or device. In the latter case, thesystem may switch the power on and wait long enough to ensure that theappliance or device has reached a steady state.

As an illustrative example, a battery charger may be switched off whileunused. In that example, when a user connects a battery orbattery-powered device to the charger, the user may push the overridebutton to reactivate the charger. Alternatively, if the node isperiodically switched on to check the state of the charger, the chargerwill begin charging and system will detect that the power consumption isgreater than in standby mode, and the node will leave the power switchedon. In either case, when the battery is charged and the charger entersstandby mode, the node may automatically switch power off.

External Influences

Aspects of the invention may also make use of data gathered outside ofthe system, including data aggregated by systems of other home energynetwork users and conditions related to the power grid such as thereal-time cost of electricity and the total load on the grid. Thisinformation may be used to advise users on the least expensive time touse certain appliances or devices, or to warn users of grid conditionsthat could lead to power service interruptions.

Zone Control

In various embodiments of the invention, appliances and devices can begrouped by function, physical location, or other useful grouping. Groupsmay also be nested. For example, a home office may include a “computer”group comprised of a personal computer, a monitor, and severalperipheral devices. The “computer” group may be included within a “desk”group that also includes a desk lamp and stereo system. The “homeoffice” group would then include the “desk” group (and nested “computer”group) plus all other appliances and devices in the room.

Some aspects of the invention consider that it may be desirable for auser to simultaneously activate or disable all appliances and devices ina zone. FIG. 20 is illustrative of a control node with a single buttonor switch 2010 assigned to the task of activating or disabling a zone(which may be duplicated in other locations, with other nodes, toachieve the same purpose). In that embodiment, the control node may beconnected to the network similarly to any other node on the network.Other embodiments allow zones to be activated or disabled by beingselected from a list of options on a display, such as a dashboard,remote control, computer, mobile device, or other interface. In the homeoffice example, when a user enters the room, a button or switch locatedon the wall (adjacent to or replacing a typical light switch) may send acommand to the controller to toggle the state of the entire zone.

In other various embodiments, occupancy sensors, including but notlimited to motion detectors, door position switches, and opticaltriggers, may also alert the system to the presence of a user in aparticular zone. Similarly, if the system detects that a user isinteracting with a certain appliance or device, the system may use thatinformation to activate other appliances, devices, groups, or zones.

Embodiments of the present invention contemplate the zone concept beingextended to system-wide configuration profiles. Commands in theseconfiguration profiles may trickle down through the hierarchy or tags ofgroups until it gets to specific devices. Profiles, also called “modes,”might include “sleep,” “housekeeper,” “normal,” “bedtime,” or othermodes. One such configuration profile may function as a “sleep button”for an entire home or office. In this way, the entire system may enterits maximum power-saving mode by pressing a single button or switch. Theopposite—disabling all power-saving functions on all nodes—may alsouseful, for example when a contractor or cleaning staff is working inthe home or office. According to various aspects, this sleep functionmay be enabled through any controller, computer, mobile device, website, or any other device connected to the network.

Embodiments of the present invention also contemplate personalizedcomfort zones that follow certain individuals. If the HVAC system wereso equipped, each room or zone could be maintained at the temperatureand/or humidity preferred by each individual. In some aspects, comfortzones may also be extended to lighting. For example, some individualsmight prefer overhead lights in certain rooms, while others might prefertask lamps. In some embodiments, the system may follow individuals fromzone to zone via biometrics, manual tracking (i.e., people use keypadsto indicate when they move to a new zone), or electronic tracking, andcontrol the HVAC/lighting system to follow their preferences. in a waythat follows the individuals.

Aspects of the invention allow users a choice between maintainingoptimal comfort (i.e., normal operation) and minimizing energy use incomfort zones and generally throughout the system. For example, a usermight select a maximum energy or cost expenditure per day, week, ormonth, and let the system automatically adjust its settings tocompensate. As the primary method, the system will most likely adjustthermostat settings and/or enable/disable climate control subsystems.

In other embodiments, the zone control system can be configured tocomport with religious requirements. In an illustrative example, theautomation features may find use with Jewish users who observe theSabbath and maintain Kosher households. Respecting the Kosher rules of“direct” and “indirect” action may be achieved by adding time delays andsome limited random behaviors to various specialized zones of the systembut may still allow for the powering on and off or other modificationsto appliances, devices, and heating and cooling systems.

Data Reporting, Auditing, and Analysis

Local Dashboard

In some of the various embodiments, the local dashboard, whether hostedon dedicated hardware or as software installed on a personal computer,or whether hosted on another interface such as a mobile device orwebsite, may aggregate stored and real-time data to provide a variety ofdata visualizations to the user via a graphical interface. In variousaspects, these visualizations may include:

Power draw of individual appliances and devices, of groups of appliancesand devices, of an entire home/office, or by individual person (based onuser-defined occupancy level or sensed occupancy level).

Power generated from sources other than the grid (fuel-burninggenerators, photovoltaic or other solar, hydroelectric, wind,geothermal).

Percentage of home/office being monitored by total consumption or bynumber of appliances or devices, or by installed wiring circuits. In thecase of total consumption, the total household/office power load, asmeasured at the main electrical feed to the breaker box, is subtractedfrom the sum of all power being monitored by individual nodes. Theremaining power load may be considered “unmonitored”.

Usage patterns of individual appliances and devices, of groups ofappliances and devices, or of system features. Examples of usage patterndata include how often automation features are temporarily disabledusing buttons on nodes, individual appliances/devices or groups areturned on and off (for example, how often the lights are turned on/offin the master bedroom), appliances and devices are used or become activebased on observation of their power profiles (for example: a thermostatmay be monitored for when it calls for heating/cooling from the HVACsystem, air conditioners and refrigerators may be monitored for whentheir compressors and fans switch on, and personal computers may bemonitored for when they switch between “on”, “standby/sleep”, and“off”.)

In various embodiments of the invention, the dashboard or controller (orother device) may monitor and present information regarding the powerusage of the home energy network. In one aspect, the dashboard or systemmay establish a baseline power consumption before implementation of thehome energy network. This can be done either by manually enteringutility bills or other consumption information for a period ending priorto the installation of the network, or by the system passivelymonitoring power usage before implementing scheduling or other controlfeatures of the network. In other aspects, the system could gatherhistorical data from third party systems such as the power company.After establishing a baseline, the dashboard can present a cost-savingsor cost-benefit analysis to the user, showing in part the improvementsand efficiencies realized by the home energy network.

In some embodiments, the dashboard or controller could also track data,entered by the user or received over the internet, about travel (auto,air, train, etc.) habits and how they contribute to users' footprints.In this way, the system becomes a sort of hub for the user's carbonfootprint and other environmental factors. The system might also recordquantity and type of garbage and recycled waste.

In still other aspects, the dashboard or controller may track non-energyusage activities and properties of the home or business in which thedashboard or controller operates. For example, if a user adds newinsulation to a home running the home energy network, that user may beable to input the type, size, location, R-value, brand, and otheridentifying data, into the dashboard or controller for use incalculation and analysis activities of the dashboard or controller.Other aspects contemplate the addition of carpeting, windows, doors, andother non-energy usage additions to the home. The controller ordashboard may then calculate energy leaks using this information, in theform of wasted energy for heating, cooling, or other activities.

Various aspects and embodiments of the invention contemplatecontrollers, such as those described above, that contain ports,processors, switches, or memory modules. Ports may be any type ofdevice, communications bus, network connection, or other device thatallows or provides communication from the controller to any othercomponent or device, whether in the described invention or beyond.Processors may consist of circuitry, conventional processors, registers,calculators, algorithms, subroutines, or any other method of analyzingor manipulating data. Switches may be any of the types of switchesdescribed herein, such as a circuit to enable or disable the flow ofpower. Memory modules may consist of any type of memory device, such asrandom-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory chips, processorregisters, caches, hard disks, readable or writable optical or tapestorage, capacitors, other circuitry, or any other type of device knownto those of skill in the art.

Display of Information

In various embodiments of the present invention, data can be displayedin real-time or historically. Historical data may be displayed by hour,day, week, month, year, or any user-defined interval. Intervals may bechosen via selections in the graphical user interface, or inputdirectly.

FIG. 21 is illustrative of a display according to one of the embodimentsof the invention. Real-time data may be displayed in the form of acurrent load 2130. Historical data may be displayed in the form of adaily average 2140 or monthly average 2150. Historical data may also bedisplayed in the form of a bar graph showing power use over time as ingraph 2110. Data may be displayed as numeric text, as graphs and charts,or via custom graphical representations. Data may also be converted fromnative units in the direct measurements (voltage, current, power, powerand factor) to derived units. For instance, power data might bedisplayed in terms of the quantity of fuel used to generate the energy,or the emissions released while generating the energy. In theseexamples, conversion values published by the government, regulatoryagencies, utilities companies, and other reputable sources may be used.In some embodiments, custom graphical representations may includerepresentations of derived units (piles of coal that increase in size aspower in consumed, windmills that spin faster in proportion to rate ofconsumption) and analogies to other physical systems (pipes, rivers,etc.), or any other graphical representation appreciated by those ofskill in the art.

In other aspects, data may also be filtered and sorted to display thelargest, smallest, and average power draws by group or individualappliance/device, as illustrated in graph 2120.

In some of the embodiments, data presented on the local dashboard may beconfined to data gathered by the system on the user's premises. However,other embodiments may use other data sources, including data enteredmanually by the user (for example, to obtain historical data predatingthe installation of the system, or data gathered by other dataacquisition systems not integrated with this system). Data received fromthe internet, such as regional averages gathered from other customers,may also be included.

Based on observed usage patterns, embodiments of the invention mayidentify opportunities for users to adjust their behavior to saveenergy. This may include observations of wasteful or inefficient use ofappliances, devices, or groups, and opportunities to change the timingand duration of certain behaviors. These opportunities may be identifiedbased on external data, such as energy prices or observed behaviors ofother users. The system may prompt users to approve or modify suggestedautomation scheduling changes, or may inform users of changes that wereautomatically applied.

In various embodiments of the invention, the dashboard may present avisualization of energy consumption, from one or multiple sources ofenergy, over time. The visualization may include the price ofelectricity ($/kWh) over time for each of the various sources of energy,whether the pricing is based on a fixed peak/off-peak schedule, orrealtime pricing data gathered over the Internet, cellular networks, orother communication networks. The display may also include the system'selectricity usage (kW) over time, as well as a dollars per time periodcalculation based upon multiplying the price by usage, which can be doneon a system-wide average or individual energy source basis. Furtheraspects of the invention contemplate the visualization of the generationof alternate sources of energy over time (such as a typical solar curveduring daylight, with various random dips from clouds or otherobstructions and systematic shifts from seasonal or weather basedeffects). In these aspects, the power generated by these alternate, orpossibly free, sources of energy may be subtracted from the overallusage of the system in order to visualize the “effective” price ofelectricity and to show how alternative energy generation plays into thecost of operating a building or other energy network. These aspects andembodiments can present the ability for users to see opportunities toshift their usage patterns throughout the day to better align with theinputs from alternate sources of energy. The dashboard may also offersuggestions for automatically shifting consumption to align withalternate inputs, for example by scheduling a certain appliance ordevice to run when the wind or solar system is producing excess power,or by adjusting lighting levels based on the intensity of solar powerbeing generated (such as dimming internal lights when solar output ishigh).

Various aspects and embodiments of the invention contemplate userinterface devices, such as those described above, that contain ports,processors, switches, or memory modules. Ports may be any type ofdevice, communications bus, network connection, or other device thatallows or provides communication from the user interface device to anyother component or device, whether in the described invention or beyond.Processors may consist of circuitry, conventional processors, registers,calculators, algorithms, subroutines, or any other method of analyzingor manipulating data. Switches may be any of the types of switchesdescribed herein, such as a circuit to enable or disable the flow ofpower. Memory modules may consist of any type of memory device, such asrandom-access memory, read-only memory, flash memory chips, processorregisters, caches, hard disks, readable or writable optical or tapestorage, capacitors, other circuitry, or any other type of device knownto those of skill in the art.

Mobile Interaction with System

Various embodiments contemplate users interacting with the system frommobile devices. Many of these mobile interaction methods are thoseappreciated by those of skill in the art. Some example communicationoptions include:

-   -   phone call or text message (SMS) to the system on the user's        premises (if system is equipped with a land line, cellular        connection, or VOIP phone system);    -   phone call to an automated call center (in this case, the call        center may automatically identify the user via their telephone        number);    -   text message (SMS) to automated call center or SMS short code        (in this case, the server may automatically identify the user        via their telephone number);    -   web browser application on a mobile device, such as a cell phone        or PDA;    -   other application running on a JAVA, BREW, or other platform on        a mobile device; and    -   dedicated remote control device equipped with mobile        communication capability (such as cellular, WiFi, WiMax).

Users may use mobile communication with the system to monitor orremotely control the system using all or a subset of the functionsavailable via the dashboard or website, or to notify the system ofchanges in the user's schedule.

In some aspects of the invention, monitoring and remotely controllingthe system may include switching appliances and devices on and off;adjusting climate control systems; receiving reports on the status andpower consumption of appliances and devices, customized for the mobiledevice; receiving messages from utility companies about the price ofelectricity, service interruptions, or the condition of or load on theelectric grid; or parental controls.

As an example of a user notifying the system of changes in his schedule,the user may decide to return to the home or office early, or may decideto lengthen his time away. The system would use this information toadjust the schedule profile for a variety of appliances and devices andgroups thereof. For example, the system may adjust the thermostat,activate window air conditioners, and adjust lighting in anticipation ofthe user's return.

Online Communication Between Controller and the Internet

In various embodiments of the present invention, a controller may usethe local home/office network, or any of the other networkingtechnologies mentioned herein, to connect to the Internet. Connection tothe local network may be through a network hub/switch/router viawireless (e.g., IEEE 802.11, 802.16, or future standards), ethernet, A/Celectrical wiring, or other dedicated wiring. The controller mayautomatically find an open wireless network. Network configurationsettings may be controlled via the local dashboard.

According to various embodiments of the invention, the controller sends(“pushes”) recorded data to a server on the Internet. This may occur atautomatic intervals or when a user commands a transmission to be made.This data may be raw data, as collected from the nodes, or data that hasbeen processed or filtered into a format readable by the server on theInternet, such as the XML format. The controller may also transmitinformation about its configuration so that online services can mirrorthe customized interface that the user is accustomed to.

In various embodiments, the controller may be capable of responding toincoming communication (“pulls”) from the Internet and communicating thesame data as above in that response. Incoming messages may includerequests for updated data, remote control commands, additional data,software upgrades, or messages to the user.

In some aspects, messages to the user may include messages from thelocal utility company. Users who have chosen to receive such messagesmay, for example, receive a notification of a service interruption, or arequest for a particular action (such as a request to reduce consumptionbased on warnings that the power grid is excessively stressed), or achange in energy pricing.

As previously described, above, the remote access and control methods ofthe present invention may be implemented with any security or encryptionmethods or technologies known or appreciated by those of skill in theart.

Online Analytical Tools

Some embodiments of the present invention contemplate the use of onlineanalytical tools. These tools may be provided via a website hosted on aninternet server. One such tool may be the duplication of the datavisualization and analysis capabilities of the local dashboard,including the specific configuration and look/feel of the user's owndashboard. Another tool may be comparison of one customer's data to manyothers via aggregated/mined data such as local (community) averages,regional averages, and national averages.

The online tools can be applied to the same metrics and visualizationslisted above for the dashboard interface. For example, a customer mightcompare the power consumption of their television with the nationalaverage for televisions or the power consumption of their airconditioner with other customers within a certain radius and withsimilar homes/offices.

Some embodiments allow the user to improve comparisons by definingadditional aspects of their system. For example, the user might choosethe specific make and model of their television, letting the system knowit is a 37-inch LCD. Alternatively, the user might describe their homeas a 1000-sq, ft. 2-bedroom apartment in a brick building, or as a3000-sq. ft. freestanding wood-frame house.

Embodiments of the invention provide online analytical tools that canalso be used to identify trends such as changes in average powerconsumption at regional and national levels, changes in customerbehavior at regional and national levels, and typical benefits achievedby users who install energy efficiency enhancing products in theirhomes/offices.

The online analytical tools may also be used to model or project theimpact of certain changes on a user's energy consumption. For example,using data acquired about a customer's air conditioner, such astemperature set point, duty cycle, power consumption, brand, and model,a tool can calculate the potential savings associated with replacing theunit with another specific model. Similar calculations may be used incombination with aggregated data from other customers to model orproject the effects of equipment substitution (replace X appliance withsimilar, but more efficient, Y), equipment type substitution (replacewindow air conditioner with central), improvement to a related system(i.e., new windows and projected improvements in A/C usage), changes inhabits (e.g., raising or lowering the temperature set point on athermostat), or scheduling and automation (e.g., shutting down anappliance/device or group).

Data Sharing and Community Features

According to some embodiments, analytical tools, offered to users in thecontext of an online community or forum, may allow users to share dataand advice and to participate in motivational tools. One such toolcontemplated by the various embodiments includes hosted user forums toallow for person-to-person communication and posting of data reports fordirect comparison to the individual and aggregated data of other users.Another embodiment consists of individual profile pages for users toshare customized information about their home energy usage andthemselves; including statistics, blog entries, articles, links, andcustom applications. Yet another aspect includes software tools andscriptable “widgets” that are generated by both the company and thecommunity of users and shared online. These custom applications can makeuse of system-generated data or data relevant to the use of the system.They can be embedded in user forums and other pages, embedded inthird-party websites (including other social networking sites) or can beinstalled on the user's personal computer or other web-enabled devices.

The company-hosted website may also provide content to encourage ongoingparticipation by the users and the community and to motivate individualsto reduce their “energy footprint”. Strategies for accomplishing thismay include company-hosted and community-generated online events, suchas “an hour without power”, “a day without a/c”, home-improvementchallenges, and other events. Tools to set, track, and reward goals mayalso be utilized. These goals could be both for the individual andshared with the community, or collective goals that encourage theparticipation of a group of users. Rewards for energy-conservationresults could include announcements of results to the community ordiscounts and coupons for sponsored products or service providers. Otheraspects consider the use of challenges and games as motivators.Challenges can be made between individuals and between groups to bringan element of competition and sport to energy usage. Milestones andgoals may also be incorporated into the website. These milestones andgoals can be for both individuals and groups and represent a variety ofmetrics.

In some embodiments, the website may include both user-generated content(i.e., forums and reviews) and individual system-generated data (i.e.,energy usage profiles for certain devices and appliances), as well ascontent provided by the company (i.e., analysis tools and controlinterfaces for the clients' systems). Each of these content typesprovides opportunities to create data valuable to the client, theprimary company, and third-party companies. Each may also be representedwith unique webpages where users may spend time online participating inactivities relating to their energy usage and power-consumingappliances/devices. The user-generated content, system generated data,and the website itself may provide a number of business opportunities.

As an illustrative example, a user can perform an in-depth energy auditto compare their recorded power consumption with that of similar usersin similar homes. The user might be informed that one or more of theirappliances is inefficient and be offered a more efficient substitutefrom a sponsored vendor: “Based on our analysis of your data, if youreplaced your air conditioner with ABC sponsored product, you will save$XYZ per year.”

As another illustrative example, data collected from individual userscould be sent verbatim, or could be processed/filtered, or could beaggregated with data from other users, and sold to appliancemanufacturers, utility companies, etc. who might want to analyze usagepatterns.

As another illustrative example, users can post online product reviews,but unlike traditional “soft” reviews (where the content is typicallyqualitative), users can also add quantitative data. For example, thewebsite may allow users to access and post their own data to “prove” theperformance of an appliance or device, or to support or verifyobservations. As a result, users could communicate that a particularmodel of refrigerator is both better looking (qualitative) and moreenergy efficient than a comparable unit.

As an illustrative extension of the above example, the widgets that allusers use to post data in product reviews, articles, and forum posts maybe posted to other websites. For example, a user might embed the widgetin a review on Amazon.com, in which case the widget would likely beserved directly by the website with a tag like “Powered by EnergyHub”(similar to the way embedded online maps often include tags from Googleor Mapquest).

As another illustrative example, while browsing web pages or shoppingonline, users may be offered contextual advertising (or featureproducts) that employs the individual user's energy usage data toprovide specific product pitches. For example, while a user is reading aproduct description, forum message, or article containing references toa type of appliance or device, an advertisement for that type ofappliance/device might be presented along with an estimate or projectionof the potential energy savings that the user could realize with theadvertised product. (“Install the [sponsored product] and save x % peryear”, where x % is calculated by comparing the energy use of thesponsored product with the recorded energy use of the user's currentproduct.)

As another illustrative example, energy saving challenges could beoffered with rewards by utility companies or other sponsors. Forexample, if a given consumer can demonstrate a reduction of x % in theirenergy use as compared to their previous use or the use of another useror group of users, then the user might receive a discount on a futurepurchase or a rebate on their utility bill.

As another illustrative example, a vendor may give customers a discount(up to 100%) on the system hardware in exchange for a portion (up to100%) of the savings realized using the system over a certain time.Other distributors or partners (e.g., a utility company) might subsidizethe cost of the system for their customers for the same reason.

As another illustrative example, to maximize the value of the datareceived from customers' systems, users may enter detailed informationabout the appliances and devices connected to their systems, and theconfigurations of their systems. This may include make and model,physical location, and other details. Many details may need to beentered manually. To encourage users to enter as much information aspossible, users may be offered incentives. These incentives may beonline via a website or may be offered through a personal computer orlocal dashboard. Incentives may be in the form of: entries into contestsor games, discounts, credits, or other offers from partner companies(especially utility companies or appliance/device manufacturers).

As another illustrative example, the dashboard (or other element of thesystem) might inform the user that only X % of their home/office iscurrently being monitored/controlled, and that they're saving Y % as aresult.

As another illustrative example, the system might inform the user thattheir consumption is higher than comparable other users, and offer aremote energy audit (e.g., on the website) or an on-premises energyaudit (probably involving sending a third-party person to do the audit,which could generate a referral fee or an ongoing fee calculated as apercentage of the savings resulting from the audit).

As another illustrative example, users who opt in to receive advertisingand product offerings could have a portion of their utility billsubsidized by the advertiser.

As another illustrative example, someone may log in to a web forum andsays “I just got a quote from a contractor to install new low-e windows.He says they're energy efficient and will save me money—is this true,and if so, how much more efficient are they?” Another user replies andsays “Look at the attached widget—when I had low-e windows installed, mysummer air conditioning load dropped by A % or B kWh/day [or other timeperiod]. I save an average of $C per month, which means the windows paidfor themselves in D months/years.”

As another illustrative example, users can create personal profiles thatinclude aspects of their personal energy use, including detailed graphsand numerical summaries. Users can also select “preferred products” andpost data supporting their preferences. This functions similarly toposting data in product reviews as described above.

The effectiveness of these online initiatives may, in part, bedetermined by the metrics used and how these metrics are presented. Theentire suite of analytic tools available to the user, under someembodiments, may make use of the data in a host of ways, but for thepurposes of the community-driven aspects of the system, thesimplest-to-read and most fundamental metrics may be preferable. Thesemay include absolute data, such as amount of electricity used and theestimated carbon dioxide that represents, or relative data, like howmuch improvement has been seen over time for a given user or group.

Having described a number of different embodiments of the invention, itshould be apparent to the person of ordinary skill that the inventionhas numerous benefits and advantages. For example, the inventionprovides a systemized framework for monitoring and controlling the vastamount of power consuming and providing devices in a business or home.

The ability to compare energy savings and conservation with the energysavings and conservation of other users in a community not onlyencourages the efficient management of resources, but also allows forpreviously unprecedented experimentation and information disseminationamongst a large group of consumers.

Further, the ability to monitor mobile devices as they move around ahousehold or business allows more precise calculations as to the truepower consumption profile of the various devices connected to themonitoring system. Improved power consumption profiles then, in turn,allow users to drastically improve energy consuming behaviors and habitsin order gain increased energy efficiency.

The invention provides particular benefits consumers in that it providesa user-centric system for managing, monitoring, and understanding energyusage. This level of user centricity has never before been contemplated.

Because the invention allows users to more efficiently monitor andmanage their consumption of energy in homes, businesses, and otherpower-consuming structures or entities, overall energy awareness amongstconsumers will be drastically improved. This may lead to an overallreduction of strains on precious resources in the global landscape.

Other benefits and advantages of the invention will be apparent to theperson of ordinary skill in the art.

Other embodiments and uses of this invention will be apparent to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the specificationand practice of the invention disclosed herein. The specification andexamples given should be considered exemplary only, and it iscontemplated that the appended claims will cover any other suchembodiments or modifications as fall within the true scope of theinvention.

1. A system for controlling and monitoring a power network, comprising:a power network interface remote from a power generation source, thepower network interface receiving and distributing power from a powernetwork; a data network interface configured to receive and transmitdata over a data network; a node interface in communication with thedata network interface, the node interface identifying, monitoring, andcontrolling a plurality of individual power-consuming devices through anetwork of nodes deployed in relation with the individualpower-consuming devices, the monitoring further comprising detecting atleast a switch state and/or a power consumption level for eachindividual power-consuming device; a controller in communication withthe power network interface, the data network interface, and the nodeinterface, the controller interpreting the received identifying andmonitoring data which comprise switch state and/or power consumptionlevel information of the individual power-consuming devices andcontrolling the individual power-consuming devices through the networkof nodes based on at least the information and any user preference oruser command; and a user interface in communication with the controller,the user interface presenting received data to a user and for receivingcommands from the user.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controllerincludes a processor for organizing and controlling the plurality ofpower-consuming devices according to a hierarchical structure.
 3. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a processor fororganizing and controlling the plurality of power-consuming devicesaccording to a tagging structure.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein thecontroller includes a processor for organizing and controlling theplurality of power-consuming devices according to a series ofhierarchically nested groups.
 5. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a server located remotely from the controller; and awide-area network interface, in communication with the controller andthe server, for connecting the controller to the server and fortransmitting data from the controller to the server.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the controller includes a port for receivinginformation from the server through the wide-area network interface. 7.The system of claim 5, wherein the controller includes a port forreceiving information from the server, the information being selectedfrom a group consisting of improved control information, data aboutother users, pricing feeds, heuristics data, and system updates.
 8. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the controller is selected from a groupconsisting of: a computer, a mobile device, a server, a remote controldevice, a handheld device, a display with user input, a thin-client, anda touchscreen device.
 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising awide-area network interface, in communication with the user interface,for receiving commands directed to the user interface from a remotedevice.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes amemory module for storing predetermined user parameters for the controlof the plurality of power-consuming devices.
 11. The system of claim 10,further including a display and wherein the controller is incommunication with the display for presenting the user withalternatives, based on the interpreted identifying and monitoring data,to at least a portion of the predetermined user parameters.
 12. Thesystem of claim 10, wherein the controller includes a processor formodifying the predetermined user parameters based on the interpretedidentifying and monitoring data.
 13. The system according to claim 1,further comprising: a database, for containing energy-related usage dataand display preference data pertaining to one or more users' energynetwork systems; a processor, in communication with the database, foranalyzing and formatting the energy-related usage data according to thedisplay preference data and transmitting the analyzed and formattedenergy-related usage data to a remote device via the data networkinterface.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the processor includes aport for receiving commands and display preference data from the remotedevice that instruct the processor how to analyze, format, and presentdata to the remote device.